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State and county extension
staff, community agencies, schools, and 4-H Club youth are reaching out to
military youth…before, during and after their parents are
deployed. This outreach effort is called Operation: Military
Kids. Annual Report (PDF)
Introduction to Operation: Military Kids (O:MK)
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Whiteman
Air Force Base Military 4-H Clubs receive recognition for their support
of military families
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When
National Guard, Army Reserve and other military parents living in
civilian communities are mobilized, their children suddenly have
different needs. Now they are “military kids” but they
still “look the same” to teachers, friends and the rest of
the community. Their lives are turned upside down!
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Many
of their usual support systems may no longer be adequate. Extensive
media coverage of on-going military operations creates daily anxiety.
These “new” military kids may have new needs:
- Connection with kids in
similar situations
- Financial support
- Greater understanding
from teacher
- Understanding adult to
talk with
- Help in assuming additional
family responsibilities
- Positive activities as a
counter-balance to the anxiety of family deployment
Operation:
Military Kids
- Creates community support
networks for military youth “in our own backyard” when
Soldier parents are deployed
- Delivers recreational,
social and educational programs for military youth living in civilians
communities
- Supports military kids
coping with the stress of knowing their deployed parents may be in
harm’s way.
- Collaborates with schools
to ensure that staff is attuned to the unique needs of military
students.
- Educates the public on
the impact of the deployment cycle on Soldiers, families, kids and the
community as a whole
- Provides resources for
military families experiencing the ongoing deployment cycle.
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O:MK
State Partners
- Missouri 4-H
- Missouri National Guard
- Army/Air Force Reserve
- Military Reserve
- Whiteman Air Force Base
- Ft. Leonard Wood
- American Legion
- Missouri Veterans Commission
- Missouri Child Education
Coalition
- University of Missouri Extension
- Youth and Volunteers
- Faith Community
- Boy Scouts
- Girl Scouts
- Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education
- Boys and Girls Clubs
- Missouri School Board
Association
State Board
Member Monthly Publicity Report Form (Word) or (PDF)
Community
Partners Guide (PDF)
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Upcoming O:MK Events
Ø Super Saturday
May 17, 2008
Hawthorne Boys & Girls Club
Independence, Missouri
Calling all Military Families!
Fun activities for the entire family
including:
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Challenging team activities
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Robotics
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Computer lab
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Creating your own scrapbook
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Taking Photos to send to deployed loved one
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Creating a Scrap Book or Memory Box and more!
For additional information, contact Joan Zeller
at zellerc@missouri.edu
Ø Discover the Magic of 4-H Military Family Camp –
A Harry Potter Weekend
June 27-28, 2008
Clover Point (Lake of the Ozarks State
Park)
Step
back in the world of Harry Potter and friends. Participants will stay at “Hogwarts School” and compete for the
Quidditch cup against the rival houses.
Camper will be led by the courageous, witty and sometimes lyrical
4-H faculty and camp staff.
Photo Gallery
from 2007 Camp (Medieval Theme)
Ø Military Appreciation Day at the Missouri State
Fair
August 12, 2008
Sedalia, Missouri
For additional information, contact Mary Jo
Williams at williamsmj@missouri.edu
Ø 3, 2, 1….Action
Postponed until fall
Whiteman Air Force
Base Youth
Center
For additional information, contact Joan Zeller at zellerc@missouri.edu
3,2,1…Action
is a team of youth and adults who are coming together to learn new skills
and create public service announcements about Army youth programs, 4-H and
life as a military kid.
Participants will come from the Active Duty Army, National Guard,
Reserves and community and must be interested in learning about information
technology to create digital videos.
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Missouri Speak Out for Military Kids/Communications Tech
Team (SOMK)
SOMK/Communications
Tech Team is an educational program designed to raise awareness of issues
facing military families. Both military and non-military youth can be
involved.
 Through
youth-led simulations, interviews, and research, participants find out
first hand what military families go through. Based on their
experiences, SOMK participants form SOMK speakers' bureaus and develop
lectures, public service announcements, videos and other materials to share
their experiences with others in the community.
In
addition to building public awareness about issues facing military families
during mobilization and deployment, SOMK provides the youth participants
the opportunity to gain valuable leadership, research, organization,
technology and public speaking skills.
Any
youth military or non-military, age 13-18, may apply to be a candidate for
SOMK/CTT. Youth must be willing to attend the majority of scheduled
meetings (2-4 per year), speak or be technician at community events,
participate in 1-2 Family Readiness Group Events and help with planning
retreats.
SOMK
Application (Word) or (PDF)
Code
of Conduct (Word) or (PDF)
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Hero Packs - Serving Special Heroes
 Clubs and organizations (particularly youth-based
groups) can support their community by creating Hero Packs (backpacks or
bags filled with various items). The "hero" is the child left at home
taking on extra responsibilities while their parent is deployed to support
the Global War on Terrorism.
Hero Pack brochure (PDF)
Not
only do young people fill backpacks with goodies, they also write a letter
for the "hero" receiving the pack.
Letter Writing Project Instructions (PDF)
Letter Writing Samples (PDF)
After
purchasing a bag or a backpack, your group may want to also purchase some
items to fill the pack. These items could include:
- Stationary
- School Supplies
- Small photo albums
- Small stuffed animals
Hero Pack
Vendor List (PDF) – suggestions on where to buy more
items
The Hero Packs will be distributed through the Missouri National Guard
Youth Services Coordinator.
Let
us know if your group would like to participate in this community service
project!
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Missouri O:MK in
Action
Stress, Strain on Military Families
Jan. 12: The stress of having
loved ones serving on the frontlines in the military can be especially
difficult for children. NBC's Dawn Fratangelo reports:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22626165#22626165
Videography Event – PSAs
about military families
On February 15-17, a group of military and civilian youth gathered at Fort Leonard
Wood's Lake of the Ozarks Recreation Area (LORA) to learn the art of
videography. View Videos and read more…
4-H Military Partnerships
Bringing
4-H to America’s
military children
View Videos
Missouri State Fair 4-H Demonstrations
 Fort Leonard Wood 4-H members conducted
three demonstrations, via Interactive television, to the Missouri State Fair
on 17 Aug 06. Garrison Commander, John J. Megnia welcomed the state fair
audience members and introduced each club. School Age Services had two 4-H
Clubs conduct demonstrations. The Spanish Club demonstrated, in English and
then in Spanish, the 4-H Pledge and a greeting song. The Dance Club
demonstrated how to dance the Cumbia. Finally, a sixth grader from the
Youth Services Program demonstrated how to operate a digital camera. The
closing remarks were made by Waita Karcher, 4-H Youth Education Assistant
of Pulaski County.
In
September the 4-H’ers and their parents were guest of honor at a
special presentation where they individually received their ribbons and
certificates presented by Garrison Commander Megnia.
Hero Packs
Hero Packs presented to military
children (PDF)
Slide Shows
Missouri's O:MK Reaching Out to Missouri's
Suddenly Military Families
Slide Show (uses flash Photojam)
Missouri Speak Out
of Military Kids visit State Capitol
Slideshow (uses flash Photojam)
Missouri OMK
Newsletter
April 2007 (PDF)
Articles
Military
Moms Hold Down the Fort (PDF)
SOMK
as part of the 4-H experience
Godfrey Elected State 4-H Council
President (PDF)
Buckstead Selected West Central
Region Representative (PDF)
Church
selected as delegate to National 4-H Congress( PDF)
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O:MK Resources
Children
of Missouri National Guard currently deployed or recently returned
Map 2006
(PDF)
Map 2005
(PDF)
Reduce
your child care costs during deployment
NACCRRA (PDF) can help
A healthy parenting
toolkit from ParentLink to help you talk about deployment, relocation,
dangerous work, times of crisis, and other general parenting topics.
ParentLink – support for
military families
Related
Links
Family
Finances
Military
Families Resources
National Operation: Military
Kids
Ready,
Set, Go Manual Resources
(documents
are downloadable in Word format)
Your
Soldier, Your Army: A Parents' Guide (cover) (PDF 274K)
Your
Soldier, Your Army: A Parents' Guide (complete text) (PDF 416)
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Contact
For
information about becoming a partner or a Youth Communications Tech Team
member with Missouri O:MK, contact Joan Zeller, zellerc@missouri.edu or
660-232-1485.
Operation:
Military Kids is provided by Army Child & Youth Services in partnership
with National 4-H Headquarters, Cooperative
State Research, Education, and
Extension Service, US Department of
Agriculture. The project is working to ease the stress of deployed or
returning National Guard and Reserve children.
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Contact
Information
Last
Revised 6-May-08
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